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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pegasus on May 22, 2006, at 11:59:52
Hi all babblers. I usually hang out only on the Psych board, but I have a med question and I'm hoping someone here might have some advice.
I've been on Paxil for a couple of years, and it has totally changed my life for the better. Recently, though, because I had a baby and am still nursing, and also because of side effects, I've dropped my dosage to a really minimal 5 mg/day (gradually from 20 mg which really felt ideal). Every time I've dropped it another 5 mg I have felt it very distinctly in my mood and my tendency to obsess and get anxious ramps up a bit, but so far I'm still doing pretty well.
So, last week I realized that my Rx was running out, so I called my pdoc for a refill. But . . . she's out of town for two weeks!
My first thought was to call her backup (for emergencies and urgent issues she says in her message), and try to get a Rx that lasts until she gets back. But then I thought . . . well it's such a ridiculously low dose anyway . . . I should be able to make it through a couple of weeks until she gets back. Right? This isn't really an urgent issue. And . . . I shouldn't be taking Paxil while nursing anyway . . . and it makes me carry extra weight . . . maybe I should just wait it out and see how it goes.
Is that a really bad idea?
peg
Posted by BrianBoru on May 22, 2006, at 17:03:23
In reply to Temporary Paxil break - bad idea?, posted by pegasus on May 22, 2006, at 11:59:52
At only 5mg, going off Paxil shouldn't be a horrible experience. It will be the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby. Just keep that in mind.
Posted by blueberry on May 22, 2006, at 18:08:16
In reply to Re: Temporary Paxil break - bad idea?, posted by BrianBoru on May 22, 2006, at 17:03:23
Just an opinion, but I believe it is a bad idea to go off paxil. Even though it is just 5mg, you will very likely experience some very uncomfortable things beginning about 2 to 3 days after you stop. It would be better to take 2.5mg for a couple weeks, and then just crumbs for another couple weeks.
But...this is kind of like a TV game where you win a prize and you can either keep it or you can trade it for something unknown behind the curtain, but you can never get your original prize back if you do trade it. I say that because I have seen it so often here over the years that whenever someone stops a med that worked for them, and then they go back to it, what usually happens is that the med feels completely different than it used to, has worse side effects than you remember, and often doesn't work again. Not always, but often. Sometimes it's better just to live with the success you have, even if it isn't perfect, and avoid the risk of losing the prize for some hell hiding behind the curtain.
Like I said though, just opinion. Been there, done that, and lost the bet.
Posted by pegasus on May 22, 2006, at 20:30:33
In reply to Temporary Paxil break - bad idea?, posted by pegasus on May 22, 2006, at 11:59:52
Hmm . . . one vote for yes, one vote for no. And they both sound reasonable to me. Thanks much Brian and blueberry for your advice.
I think I'm going to not get a refill from the sub pdoc. It just doesn't seem urgent to me. Although, that is one of my issues - never thinking I'm worth troubling about. But in this case, it really doesn't seem necessary.
On the other hand, I have a root canal scheduled this Friday and so it's not the *best* time to let my anxiety level go up. But . . . I can make it through that. And then maybe I'll just talk to my regular pdoc about whether to start the 5 mg/day again when she gets back.
thanks again
peg
Posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2006, at 22:17:15
In reply to Re: Temporary Paxil break - bad idea?, posted by blueberry on May 22, 2006, at 18:08:16
Blueberry that's what happened to me my first ad was l0mg of paxil gradually weaned off after two years. When I tried to start it again it didn't work ever again. Love Phillipa
Posted by BrianBoru on May 23, 2006, at 10:57:39
In reply to Re: Temporary Paxil break - bad idea?, posted by pegasus on May 22, 2006, at 20:30:33
One possible antidote to Paxil withdrawal is the use of a couple of doses of Prozac to mitigate the withdrawal symptoms. It worked for me.
Posted by pegasus on May 24, 2006, at 8:56:18
In reply to Re: Temporary Paxil break - bad idea?, posted by BrianBoru on May 23, 2006, at 10:57:39
Yikes. Well, my eventual plan was that after I've finished nursing I was going to try some other SSRIs to see if they give the good effect I've gotten from Paxil without so much side effects (weight gain and sexual stuff). But I was hoping that if that didn't work out I could go back on Paxil, which has been a veritable miracle in my life. Now I'm worried that I've ruined my miracle. But I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
I've been two and a half days without any Paxil now, and so far nothing bad is happening. I did graduate down from the 5 mg, by cutting my last pill into ever smaller little bits. And I took the last fragment Sunday morning.
peg
This is the end of the thread.
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